January 18
Read Exodus 2 - 4
In Today's Reading:
Early life of Moses; his flight into Midian; the burning bush; his commission to free the nation of Israel; his return to Egypt
Moses, the son of Israelite slaves, enjoyed the luxury of the Egyptian palace! It came to pass . . . when Moses was grown, that he went out to his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting (striking, beating) a Hebrew, one of his brethren. And . . . when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand (Exodus 2:11-12).
Moses was 40 years old when he executed the cruel Egyptian. This was Moses' legal right, since he was of the royal household and possibly second only to Pharaoh in administering justice. Moses was in the prime of his life and, from a natural point of view, it would seem to be the ideal time for God to use him to set His people free from their suffering.
But Moses was forced to flee Egypt. This was followed by 40 years of loneliness as a shepherd in a desert wilderness. It must have seemed to Moses a waste of 40 years to do nothing of importance. But, with the Lord, such time is never wasted. It was in the desert that the Lord appeared to him and said: Draw not near here: put off your shoes from off your feet, for the place whereon you stand is holy ground (3:5). Moses could never have learned humility or been able to come closer to God in an Egyptian palace. He was too busy and too important. But both experiences were vital in preparing him to be the person God could use to lead His people out of Egypt, through the desert, and on to the borders of the promised land.
The wisdom of the world cannot qualify us to make right decisions in life We must be taught by the Holy Spirit through reading His Word and being obedient to its truth. It is the Holy Spirit's anointing on what we do and say that makes our lives worthwhile. Like Moses, our most basic need is the removal of self-sufficiency. It was spiritually necessary for Moses to tend sheep on the backside of the desert to eliminate self-will and fully yield to God's will (3:1).
The highly-educated Apostle Paul wrote: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God (II Corinthians 3:5).
Christ Revealed:
As the I AM THAT I AM who commissioned Moses (Exodus 3:13-14; compare Hebrews 13:8). Jesus said to them, Verily, verily (Truly, truly), I say to you, Before Abraham was, I am (John 8:58).
Word Studies:
2:13 strove = were quarreling; 2:16 of Midian = of the descendants of Abraham through his second wife Keturah (Genesis 25:1-4); 2:23 sighed by reason = groaned because; 2:25 had respect unto = was concerned about; 3:22 spoil = take the wealth of.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for The International Shortwave Radio Broadcast in honor of Linda Kennon · BP Staff: Karen Hawkins · Government Officials: Rep. Elijah Cummings (MD), Rep. Kay Granger (TX), and Rep. Michael Michaud (ME) · Country: Iceland (272,000) at the northern end of the Atlantic · Major language: Icelandic · Religious freedom · 94% Protestant; 6% Roman Catholic · Prayer Suggestion: Encourage others to praise the Lord throughout the day (Psalm 67:5).
Optional Reading: Matthew 18
Memory Verse for the Week: Galatians 5:23